Debris falling off a truck, in this case a large shipping container, has claimed the life of a man who was bicycling near the roadway. According to witnesses, a large shipping container fell off of a flat bed truck after the truck struck an overhead bridge. The container tipped over and hit the ground with such force that it shook neighboring houses. The fifty-one-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
About Debris on the Roadway
This tragedy is just the latest in a string of recent accidents involving debris in the road. In fact, more than 25,000 accidents occur each year in the United States as a result of gravel, merchandise, grease and even automobiles falling from trucks and nearly 100 people are killed, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.3 Statistics published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration paint a much more serious situation. According to their research, debris on the road is responsible for more than 800 deaths annually in the United States. 4
When a shipping container falls off of a commercial truck and causes bodily injury or wrongful death, everyone responsible should be held accountable:
- The truck driver;
- The owner of the truck;
- The owner of the container; and
- Any third-party company involved in loading and securing the container.
Most cases like this are the result of negligence on the part of one or more of the above. A wrongful death lawsuit can help the family get answers by allowing access to corporate documents and witnesses, including the truck driver.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Whatever the true number, debris in the road is a serious situation. Sometimes, even the most alert driver is unable to avoid items falling from a truck ahead of them. If you or someone you care about has been killed or critically-injured in a truck accident, you need someone to help look out for your interests and those of your family, someone who knows the applicable laws and the people to make things happen in the courthouse and someone who will find out what really happened during those few critical moments on the highway. The lawyers at our law firm have extensive experience in working with cases involving debris on the road. They will fight for your rights both in and out of court. To learn more about a possible wrongful death claim and to schedule a free case analysis with a truck accident lawyer, call our office today at 1-888-377-8900.
Sources:
- http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20151027/shipping-container-falls-off-truck-kills-man-at-long-beach-carson-border
- http://mynewsla.com/crime/2015/10/27/bicycle-rider-killed-by-container-falling-from-truck/
- https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/Crashes.pdf
- http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811059.PDF
Our law firm is located in Minneapolis, and our lawyers handle cases throughout Minnesota. They have also represented clients whose loved ones died in other states.
